Title: Opposites Attract
Chapter 28 - Something Worth Dying For?
A/N: Thanks to everyone for all the reviews (you know who you are I love you all lol) and comments and support so far and making this story continue and be worth reading still! Even the lurkers lol
"Got it! Thanks Cyrus, we'll call you when we have him," I state firmly as I look at Flack. "Did you get that?"
"Yeah, I just called Jess. Her friend at the FBI, Wilson McClean is going to get us there. We should arrive shortly after they do," Flack tells me with a frown.
"But Mac..."
"Stella, we'll get him in time."
"All it takes is one kill stroke," I whisper in sorrow.
"We'll get him."
I look out the window and offer a small prayer. And for the first time in hours, my brain actually allows me a few seconds of hope. We might just make it. But then I remember those pictures and know that Mac's stay with the Gibbons has probably already dealt him a cruel hand. I close my eyes and pictures of him carved up instantly appear and I quickly force them open otherwise I know I'll be no good to him in my morbid stupor.
Hold on Mac, I'm coming. Please just hold on. Dont give up! Whatever you do, dont give up.
XXXXXXXX
I feel the vehicle starting to slow and my heart starts to speed up. My tired brain once again tries to tell my body to try to pull the ropes around my wrists to allow some kind of give, but my limbs are slow and tired and it doesn't do any good but once again refuse to give up. I pull my wrists as best I can; not caring if I am putting more pressure on my chest, my cruel fate always a reminder that time is not on my side.
Part of my brain tries to assure me that by now Stella will have gone into my office and found Charles Gibbons name on my board. Knowing how smart she is I know she will have gone to their house and hopefully found evidence of a struggle. That would then ensure she did a search for them and hopefully that would mean she'd start looking for whatever vehicle I am being held hostage in. But the other part of my brain tells me that despite all that, she won't be able to pick out the exact spot I am being delivered to; the one place that I fear will become my final resting place.
But as I feel the van starting to some to a dying halt, my heart is about to explode. I lightly offer another useless struggle as I feel the van finally stop and listen to Charles angry footsteps as he heads toward me. I look up at him in anger but he only looks down with a glance of indifference; my life meaning nothing more than a sacrifice to appease the memory of his dead son. He pulls the knife and finally cuts the ropes that bind my feet together; my legs still numb and tingly. He walks to the back of the van and pushes the door open while I finally chance to stretch my legs out. The pain from them being bound tightly adds to my frustration, and while my brain tells me to get up and charge Charles I am able to do little more then feel painful sensations all the way down to my toes as some feeling starts to return.
Charles storms up to me and looks down in anger. "Don't worry Taylor, you're death won't be quick and painful. It'll be just as Jacob would have wanted; slow and painful," he laughs as he takes me by the arm and hauls me to a standing position. Thanks to the damn muscle relaxant, I can do little more than feel pain from mild atrophy and sag to my knees. Charles, however, doesn't care as he drags me to the back of the van and fairly throws me toward the edge, causing me to stumble. I land on my side; offering raspy breaths into the dry gag and try to adjust my eyes to the dim moonlight. My brain starts to register the area I am in and I frown. This isn't where Jacob died; but I should know it.
"That's right Taylor," he snaps at me, as if reaching inside my tired brain and pulling out my very thoughts. "This is where you made the first promise to me and Jacob. The very place you looked us both in the eye and swore to us on the damn Taylor Oath that if we trusted in you, we could HELP STOP A KILLER!" Charles shouts as he puts a foot on my back and sends me crashing over the edge and landing on the hard ground in a huff. There is no way Stella will ever figure this out.
I finally notice Marla Gibbons coming up on the other side of me and once again as a strong feeling of doom is starting to consume me. She looks down at me with a frown. "Yeah I was here too. I was forced to wait in the police cruiser while you told my son he would be safe if he listened to you. Do you remember that!"
I don't bother to look up at either of them as I know that my time is up and no matter what I say or do now will only delay the inevitable. I feel Charles once again grab my arm and force me upright; and despite the damn muscle relaxant dancing around in my system I am finally able to stand on my feet and keep myself upright.
"Time to go," Charles hisses as he starts to pull me in the direction of a wooded area. My eyes dart around as I finally feel some strength coming back to me; or maybe it's just adrenaline as I feel the end draw near. I start to pull against Charles grasp and I with a small stroke of luck am finally able to pull free. I waste no time in dropping my shoulder and pushing against Charles and heading for the wooded area. Charles offers a heavy curse as he charges after me. My heart is racing and my brain about to explode as I just push myself further into the night; hoping to buy time, telling myself that help might be on the way and I need to stall.
However, just as I reach a small hill, I am tackled from behind and slammed into the ground, the cuts on my chest ripping open and devouring whatever debris the harsh ground can offer. I yell in pain as Charles hits my side and then leaves me on my stomach, lightly gasping for air.
"You can run around these woods all night Taylor, no one is coming for you! You are ALONE! AND YOU'LL DIE ALONE! Just like Jacob," Charles shouts down at me as Marla finally catches up. Charles allows me a few more minutes of false rest before I am once again forced upright and held captive; Marla and Charles on either side of me. I am marched further into the woods toward a waiting shack. Finally after what seems like a small eternity, we arrive. I eye the building which will probably be my tomb and my heart starts to race as I try in vain to pull myself free of Charles grasp but he just tightens his grip around my cut arm and I am forced to subside.
"Didn't think you could ever be afraid, Taylor," he mocks. "Afraid of dying?" He sneers at me; offering me a sideways look of hatred.
I keep my eyes fixed on the building in front but something inside my brain finally tells me to take some action and I slam my head sideways connecting it with Charles face and finally shaking him off me. However, with Marla still holding my other arm, all I received is a painful blow to the stomach and I know my escape attempt is once again short lived.
Charles quickly regains his footing and turns to face me, bloody nose and all. He offers a spit of blood in my direction, which lands on my cheek but I refuse to bend to the madman before me.
"You will die tonight," he tells me in a slow voice. "Nothing will save you now."
Stella will...she just has to.
XXXXXXXX
"Detective Bonasera, are you sure?" FBI Agent McClean asks me.
"The place where Jacob died is too obvious, but Agent Brower is taking a team there just in case. Trust me, he's taken my partner here," I state in a panic as we fly further into the night. "I believe Detective Chan. This has to work. Please?"
"Okay," he huffs as he takes the coordinates and gives them to the pilot.
I lean back in the seat and cast a glum expression out the window. "Think he's scared?" I offer to Flack in a soft whisper.
"He used to be a Marine so I'm sure he's faced death before. You said you saw a scar above his heart?" Flack asks to which I nod my head. "Then he's come near the brink before. I don't think death is what could scare a man like that."
"Its life right?" I offer lightly.
"Or even knowing that when you die that no one cares about you," Flack tells me softy.
"Think he'll believe that? Because I do care," I frown. "I just wish I had the chance to tell him," I reply as fresh tears bathe my tired eyes once again.
"Remember a few months ago when Jess and I split up for a few weeks?" He asks.
"Remember? Don, you busted up a cruiser, broke my phone twice and threw a chair at a suspect," I reply with a slight smile. "Trust me I remember."
"Our last conversation was a heated argument where we each stated that we hated the other," he informs me. "Remember what happened next?"
"You were shot," I tell him with a frown.
"And when I was lying there until Lucas was taken away I kept telling myself that despite my being a dumb ass before we parted, that Jessica cared enough about me to never give up."
"And you were right," I admit. "She was the one driving the team to find you and when she did," my voice trails off. "Yelling at all of use to stop wasting time. Yeah she cared about you, never stopped."
"When I was safe, she told me she never stopped loving me and I knew she was right. Stella, I never gave up hope that she would find me; I never stopped believing that she cared. Even after Lucas shot me and I thought I might die, I told myself Jessica would find me and I found a way to hold on. That despite the fact that the world around us thought we were through for sure. You can be sure right now, Mac is telling himself that you will find him; let's not let him down."
"Did Jessica ever feel guilty?" I wonder.
"Sometimes she still does," he frowns. "But much like myself, Mac won't let you dwell on that. And when he's back with us where he belongs; he'll tell you that yourself. It wasn't your fault."
"Thanks," I offer weakly.
"Don't worry, we'll get him."
"How much longer?" I ask McClean.
"Probably longer than either you or your partner will like."
Oh Mac, I do care, I lament inside as I once again look outside into the night sky. I will find you, please hold on.
XXXXXXXX
The door to the old shack is pulled open and I once again feel my panic starting to take hold. Charles pushes the door open and I feel myself starting to lightly cough as I inhale dust and mold. Charles marches me over to a wooden post in the middle and then holds me against it while Marla wraps a piece of rope around my neck and the post; making sure I can't escape. Next a rope around my waist and I'm secured to my wooden stake my bound wrists painfully trapped between the harsh wood and my sweaty back.
I realize that now my death might be inevitable and can only tell myself not to give in to the lunatic before me. Whatever strength I have left will be to force my mind on Stella and not on Charles. I will die knowing I will never call his name or beg him for anything. I love Stella, isn't that worth dying for?
Charles pulls out his knife and then just stands in front me; a look of hatred and anger on his face. He finally yanks the gag from my mouth but all I can do is offer a heavy sigh; my tongue to tired to actually lick my lips; my throat to sore to actually swallow or offer saliva.
"You will beg for death," Charles taunts me in a low tone. My dress shirt is finally cut away by Marla and my black t-shirt just hangs in two halves around my bruised sides.
"If you...do...this," I try in a low tone; my voice strained and my throat raw.
Charles looks at me in shock. "After all this, you are still trying to reason with me?" He asks in disbelief. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
"You'll...get the...chair," I try again, offering a haggard cough, my stomach on fire and my lungs burning.
"Trust me, we won't be caught here," he sneers. "The only thing anyone will find is your corpse! And I'm not sure your team of twits is bright enough to figure out where you are. Even if they realize you are missing and if by some slim chance of fate deduce that I am in some way involved, it'll be a lifetime before they figure out this place," he offers fatefully. "Trust me, no one cares enough about you to piece this together."
"I did," I wheeze.
"Lot of good it did you," he throws at me.
Then without warning, I watch as he raises the knife and then feel searing pain as the knife is finally plunged into my chest. I can only offer a yell of agony as my life blood starts to escape; a scar that will leave permanent damage on my vulnerable flesh.
"Stella..." I try in an agonizing whisper.
XXXXXXXX
"Stella?" Flack asks as I take a sharp inhale. "You okay?"
"Yeah just had a horrible feeling that Mac's in extreme pain," I offer with a worried expression. "I keep telling myself we'll get there in time, but I just feel inside that we are already too late."
"Mac," I whisper into the night.
"Your mind keeps showing you those pictures," Flack reminds me. "That's what's feeding your fear."
"Inside...I feel pain as if I'm now feeling what Mac is enduring."
"Stella, you are letting your emotions get the best of you."
I swallow back fear and then turn my watery gaze back into the night; my fists still clenched in terror and misery but inside I know what I am feeling; Mac is dying.
Mac, please I beg in anguish. Please just find a way to hold on. I'm coming.
XXXXXXXX
My body is again forced into severe agony as Charles once again shoves the knife into another area of soft flesh. He keeps talking to me about his son, but my brain has now forced itself into another world; a world where I see only myself and Stella and my pain disappears. I know it's not gone and I realize it's because my body will soon be near death that my brain won't afford me the reality of what I am enduring. I don't know how many times that knife has made contact, but I know that I won't last much longer. And while I keep telling myself that Stella will be here any moment to deliver me from the devil, I fear that the dream of us building a future together will never come true.
"Stella, I'm sorry," I whisper between painful gasps.
"Trust me, she can't hear you," Charles laughs. "Only I can, AND I DON'T CARE!"
My watery eyes force themselves open once more but my head refuses to hold itself upright. I feel the tension on my windpipe as the rope around my neck tightens with my position but at this moment I don't care. Charles continues to circle me; taunting me with words of hatred and slashes of his bloody weapon. My heart is nearing critical and I have no feeling in my legs; my weight starting to pull on the ropes around my neck and waist.
Marla comes up close, grabs my chin and forces my head upright, daring my eyes to lock with hers. However, unlike before, I know there is no point in begging for any kind of release and so keep my eyes closed. I hear her offer a curse and my head is once again let go; only to hang down, once again putting painful tension around my labored windpipe.
"Stella..." I manage in a dead whisper as Charles comes close once again.
"Beg me to stop Taylor!" Charles shouts at me.
"Never..." I whisper; my life force starting to decline.
"BEG ME!" He yells into my ears.
"Go...to...hell," I offer in anguish.
"Fine!" He shouts as he deals me another blow. "Beg me Taylor! BEG ME!" He shouts again; and once again I refuse. I know I'll die very soon but I refuse to offer my last breath on this earth to him in any way.
"Stella," I try again in torment. "I...love...you," are my final words whispered in torment before I close my eyes for what I fear is the last time.
"Very well then," he snarls; standing before me, lifting my face to his. "This is for Jacob," he hisses and my world starts to fade to black.
"See you in hell Taylor."
Stella...goodbye
XXXXXXXX
"We have an infrared sensor and I see three red forms," Agent McClean tells me. "Sorry only two are moving."
My eyes instantly water as I look at Flack. "Mac," I offer in misery.
"Don't worry, we'll get him," Flack huffs. "He's probably immobolized in some way."
"I have two squads coming down and EMS on the same road we believe they used to get down there and we have two more waiting at the road entrance just in case they manage to escape."
I pull my gun and then look at Flack with a frown.
"But we can't land that close so you'll have to enter on foot," he says handing Flack and myself a head piece. "This will keep you in the loop. I'll say in here and monitor the infrared sensor. But trust me I'm sure they've heard us already."
I take the piece and with slightly trembling fingers place the small device in my ear. My heart is starting to race at the thought that I might find Mac dead. He said only two forms were moving and one was still. Mac could be bound to something; I try to reason in my worried mind. Or maybe he's drugged? Unconscious? Dead! Damn it, I curse inside. The few painful minutes that it takes for the helicopter to finally land seem to take an eternity. But when it does I waste no time in pulling the door open and then looking at Flack.
"Just be careful," he warns. "The last thing I need is two bodies more to take care of."
"Likewise," I frown. "McClean?"
"That direction," he points. "The sensor shows a few small buildings but I can't tell from here which one their in. Good luck. An air Ambulance is on its way."
I waste no time in rushing in the direction that the FBI pointed us in. In my earpiece he is telling me that we are going in the right direction and that a few more local officers on foot are heading in our direction.
I glance at Flack who looks over at me with a nervous frown as we push ourselves further into the dark forest. The moonlight, however, is bright enough to cast eerie shadows and my heart starts to race as every whispered noise, now plays with my sense of fear and vulnerability. But I tell myself that I have to save Mac and I press on despite my growing paranoia.
We near the first establishment and stop, needing to give my heart a few seconds to actually slow down before I have a coronary right on the spot. We move in closer a few more yards and then stop.
"I see the van," I whisper to Flack. "But I don't hear any other voices."
We very carefully make our way toward the van and then stop once again. The door is open and as my eyes travel to the ground I see faint traces of fresh blood and offer an angry inward curse.
"I'll cover you," Flack throws at me in a soft voice.
I offer a nod and then carefully push my way toward the open back door. I peer inside and then my stomach starts to feel sick when I see the mattress Mac must have been laying on because it's soaked with blood and sweat and there is a bloody gag on the floor. Ropes that I assume held his feet bound are now on the floor and so I know he was forced to walk to his final resting place.
"Oh Mac where are you," I offer in anguish as I continue to look around. But there is no clue as to where they are so I head back outside. "We need to search each all of these places," I tell Flack as I reach the back door and quickly step outside.
"Looks like he put up a good fight," Flack frowns as he gestures to the scuff and drag marks near my feet. I look up only to see dancing lights heading our way.
"Flack!" I tell him and we both look for something to hide behind. Sadly their direction only tells us that Mac is before us but Agent McClean also told us that there were numerous buildings that Mac could be in. The infrared wasn't that exact. Time was against us and I doubt they'll offer Mac's location that easily. This will be a fight to the death, for all of us.
"As much as I know you want Charles Gibbons, take Marla and then go for Mac, don't wait for me," Flack directs.
"Flack I want Charles!"
"Find Mac!"
Despite the fact that I want more than anything to beat the crap out of Charles Gibbons Flack is right, I need to find Mac so I offer only a nod as I move myself into position to wait. I see them finally clearing the woods; smiles on their faces and a bloody knife in Charles hand. Mac! My mind screams in horror. The fist not holding my gun instantly balls and it takes everything in my power to remind myself to wait until they clear the woods before charging for them. The uniformed officers are still a few minutes away but I need to make this quick and go find Mac.
Flack moves a few more feet and finally Charles and Marla clear the last patch of woods. They hear the helicopter and both look up in shock.
"NYPD FREEZE!" Flack shouts as he breaks free from his hiding place and rushes toward Charles Gibbons.
"Not possible!" Charles shouts in horror as he watches Flack racing for him. I waste no time in charging toward Marla who only looks at me with a scowl, before raising her own gun. She fires off a shot that thankfully misses by a long shot. But I continue; the thought of getting to Mac before he's dead the only thing driving my brain.
Hold on Mac, I'm here.
XXXXXXXX
Somewhere in the back of my tormented brain, I think I hear gunshots. Not possible I tell myself as that would mean I might be rescued and I think it's too late for that.
Just hold on, my mind whispers in agony.
Too tired, I offer in misery.
You have to hold on, Stella is here.
And as I feel my life force continuing to fade, something inside of me seizes my willpower and won't let go. It's love; the strongest force in the known universe. Stella, my mind tries again.
Hold on Mac, I finally tell myself. And despite the sheer agony my body is enduring, my mind finally has something to focus on.
Stella is here. She never gave up on us.
XXXXXXXX
I finally reach Marla and slam into her with all my force; sending us both flying to the ground.
"Bitch!" She screams as she tries to fire off a shot at me.
It's almost laughable at how poor a fighter she is and I am easily able to overpower her and snatch the gun from her hand. I toss it aside only to be punched in the stomach and sent flying backward onto my side. She twists herself out of my grasp and tries to run. I am able to lunge at her legs, forcing her slam back to the ground on her stomach.
I reach for her, grabbing a handful of hair and jerking her head painfully back. "Where is Mac!" I order.
"He's dead bitch!" She shouts with a half laugh.
I slam my gun into her back, winding her. "That's Detective bitch to you!" I shout as I punch her again. I finally let my anger get the best of me and just hit her until she's not moving. I am about to cuff her when, I am momentarily distracted by a yell from Flack and as I look up I see Charles pull the knife back from Flack's side; covered with fresh blood once again.
Charles kicks at Flack, sending his gun flying. He looms over him with the knife but I won't allow anything more to happen because of Charles Gibbons. I raise my gun and line up my target. "This is for us Mac," I growl in anger as I squeeze back on the trigger. I hear Marla shouting a loud and horrified "NO" as my bullet leaves the chamber and enters its mark, embedding itself in Charles heart, killing him instantly.
Flack looks over at me and mouths a thank you before his face turns to that of horror. I quickly turn around only to have my gun kicked out of my hand by Marla who now looms over me with her own recovered weapon.
"This is for Charles," she declares in anger as she prepares to fire.
However, only one shot is heard and when I open my eyes it's her body that falls to the ground instead of mine. I look over at Flack, who thankfully had recovered his gun and used it when it was needed most. My turn for thanks as I quickly push myself up to my feet and rush to his side.
"You okay?" I call to Flack.
"Surface wound, I'm okay. You?"
"I need Mac, then I'll be okay! They came from that way," I nod with my head. "Agent McClean are you still able to register Mac?"
"The heat source is slowly fading, you'll have to hurry," he tells us in a panic. "Too many small buildings close together to pinpoint an exact fix but he's out there."
I waste no time in grabbing Marla's flashlight and rushing in the direction they came from; Flack right on my heels.
We run a few more feet and then stop and stare at the maze of buildings before us.
"We have to check them all," Flack tells me. "Take the right and I'll take the left. Either one of us finds him, just yell."
"Deal!" I offer in haste as I waste no time in rushing for the first building. In the back of my mind I hear the EMS Medi-Vac helicopter approaching but my mind can only focus on one thing finding Mac.
"Mac!" I shout as I head for the first building. Nothing! I offer a curse but waste no time in turning around and heading for the second.
"Mac!"
XXXXXXXX
Stella? My tormented brain hears her voice calling my name but I think it's just what I want to hear. I try to lift my head but my body has no power or strength and so I can only hang in front of me like it has for most of the night. Before he left Charles stuffed the gag back into my mouth so I can't even offer a small noise as to where I am.
Mac!
I hear it again? Can this be? Do I have a reason to hold on a bit longer? Yes!
Mac!
Again. You have to try, my mind begs.
Okay I can try.
XXXXXXXX
"Mac!" I try again as I reach the last one. Nothing! I offer another curse and then look at Flack in a panic. Terror has seized my entire being at the thought that maybe they have buried Mac somewhere out here and now we really are too late; or he'll die just before I have a chance to save him.
"I've looked in the others," Flack tells me. "Nothing."
"They came from this direction," I state in anger. I look further into the woods and frown. "We have to keep going. McClean?"
"Keep going."
"Stella, they wouldn't have..." he starts.
"Flack, I'm not going to stop for one more minute until I have him in my arms."
"Let's go then."
We turn towards the woods once more and push ourselves further into the night.
"Hold on Mac," I keep whispering, over and over again, as if by some sheer stroke of luck he'll be able to hear me and hang on until I am there. But another part of me reminds me the bloody knife that Charles was carrying had Mac's blood on it when he emerged from the woods and so I know my time is short.
"Mac!" I shout once again.
"He might not able to answer," Flack finally tells me.
"I don't care, if he can hear me then maybe it will give him a reason to hold on until I am there."
"Mac!"
XXXXXXXX
I hear her calling my name again and her voice is getting closer. Hold on Mac, I tell myself.
Hurts to much.
You have a reason to live. But I also have a reason to die. I'd die for Stella.
Live for her! My brain commands.
I want to sleep.
Just hold on.
'Mac!'
There it is again.
Pain is too much, hurts for my heart to keep beating. Just a few more minutes. You have to hold on. Can you do that? Not sure. YES YOU CAN! My brain commands. YOU HAVE TO.
Okay.
XXXXXXXX
We finally reach another small clearing and are once again faced with a set of small buildings. I look at Flack and we waste no time in rushing ahead to search each one. In the distance I hear the other officers and medical personnel but I dont care about telling them anything until I know Mac is with me.
I reach the first and once again curse when I see nothing.
"Mac!" I shout.
XXXXXXXX
She's just outside, make a noise.
Too tired. Can't.
YOU HAVE TO! ANYTHING.
Okay. And with whatever ounce of adrenaline I have left I am able to only offer a slight shift with my feet. Did that work? Probably not. Anything else.
Sorry, nothing left. It's over.
XXXXXXXX
I stop and listen, my ears thinking they heard something. "McClean?"
"He's gone."
"Flack!"
I am about to turn and head for Flack when out of the corner of my eye I spy a small, almost falling down shack. I look at it, and without knowing what's pushing me, I feel something just take hold of my arm and drag me toward it.
I race for the building, my heart about to explode. I pull the door open and shine my light on an object in the middle of the room. My world comes to a complete stop. "Oh my god," is all I can whisper before my eyes automatically water.
"Mac...no," I try as time holds me in place, not allowing me to take another step toward him. "NO!" I shout in terror; tears now blinding my vision. "MAC!"
His body is bound to the beam, gag in place. He's not moving and blood has covered almost any piece of exposed skin that he can offer. There is no movement and the stillness starts to attack me. I feel my stomach instantly lurch as I take a step closer the scent of death gripping me in its iron fist; choking my lungs, I am unable to breathe. I hear Flack calling my name but as I near Mac, my heart starts to race near critical and I hear nothing more except the loud pounding in my ears.
Flack reaches the door and I hear him curse.
I reach Mac and gingerly touch his neck, feeling for a pulse. Nothing. Just cold to the touch.
"Mac...no," I cry when I feel nothing.
"Stella?"
"NO!" I shout into the dark stillness of night. "I'm too late. Mac's dead."
A/N: please don't hate me for all the tension...but what do you think? (PS This is me so don't stop reading hehe) Please review and as always thanks in advance! More to come.
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